Pursuant to Article VI, § 28(c) of the State Constitution and section 211 of the Judiciary Law, upon consultation with the Administrative Board of the Courts, and with the approval of the Court of Appeals of the State of New York, I hereby amend, effective immediately, section 25.16(a) of the Rules of the Chief Judge, by adding the underlined material, relating to Career Service to read as follows:

§ 25.16 Equal Employment Opportunity.

(a) It is the policy of New York State Unified Court System to ensure equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including freedom from sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, disability, or, in certain circumstances, prior criminal record. No person shall be prevented from qualifying for employment in any position in the Unified Court System because of any of these factors, unless these factors are bona fide occupational qualifications.